Far-right Austrian presidential candidate Norbert Hofer was defeated in the country's election. He has congratulated the victor Alexander Van der Bellen the former head of the Greens who stood as a pro European candidate.

"Mr Van der Bellen called the result a vote for a "pro-European" Austria based on "freedom, equality and solidarity". Referring to the Austrian flag, he said a "red-white-red signal of hope and change, a red-white-red signal today goes from Austria to all the capitals of the European Union. "Finally, you know, I will try to be an open-minded, a liberal-minded and first of all a pro-European federal president of the Republic of Austria"."

Italy

Italian Prime Minster Matteo Renzi gambled and lost. Sunday he suffered a heavy defeat in a referendum over plans to reform the country's constitution. Voter turnout was almost 70%; by early Monday most ballots have been counted with the NO vote taking 60% of the vote.

The vote became a chance to register discontent with Prime Minister Renzi and people grabbed that chance with both hands.

In the current European, or is that world, political rollercoaster of a year Italy becomes the latest country to face political uncertainty.

Such are the money markets that the value of the Euro is down against the US Dollar Monday.

​New Zealand

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has announced he will resign as the country's Prime Minister citing personal reasons.After eight years as PM he will not seek a fourth term in 2017. Political pundits are reporting that his wife Bronagh had given him an ultimatum, presumably it is me or the job, but has denied those reports.

​Western politics

Over in the USA President elect Donald Trump continues to make political waves. He is not President yet but he is acting as if he is breaking with political protocol and upsetting the likes of China along the way.

In the UK unelected Prime Minister Theresa May is up against the Supreme Court Monday as the government's appeal on whether or not triggering Article 50 requires parliamentary approval. The Independent reports Monday;

The Attorney General is to warn Supreme Court judges that they should steer clear of getting involved in political decisions as the Government goes to the Supreme Court in the latest stage of the legal battle over Brexit.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright will lead the case for Theresa May’s administration in its bid to overturn a High Court decision made earlier this year, which secured Parliament the right to vote on launching Brexit talks.​Ms May has made clear that regardless of the outcome, she intends Article 50 to be invoked by the end of next March to start talks with EU countries aiming for a 2019 Brexit.

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